Greensboro Transit Authority’s bus fleet takes a step towards sustainability

Keolis has been awarded a €17.3 million-a-year contract to operate and manage the Greensboro Transit Authority’s (GTA) fixed-route bus and paratransit services in North Carolina, U.S., starting in January 2019.

The fixed route service is comprised of 16 routes and five Higher Education Area Transit (HEAT) routes, delivering approximately 4 million passenger trips annually. GTA’s paratransit services provide an additional 250,000 journeys per year.

The 3.5-year contract, with two one-year options, to operate Greensboro’s transit network includes safety management and training, bus maintenance and repair, fare collection and bilingual customer service support.

“Keolis and the GTA both believe in the power that sustainable public transport can yield for communities. We are excited to serve this city with strong economic growth and truly believe our partnership with the GTA will make a positive impact,” said Steve Shaw, President and CEO at Keolis Transit America. “We are inspired by the potential to provide world-class transportation services to meet the evolving needs of the Greensboro community.”

Vehicles in the current fleet of 43 will be gradually replaced by electric Proterra buses, beginning in November 2018, and by March 2019, 14 electric buses will be in operation with aspirations to eventually have a fully electric fleet.

“Operating the largest public transit system in the Triad, we are continually looking to enhance our services to meet the growing public transportation needs in Greensboro,” said Bruce Adams, Public Transportation Manager. “Keolis has a proven track record for the successful delivery of operations and maintenance services. The GTA Board and City staff look forward to new thinking and new processes that will take us to a higher level in service for our riders and the overall community.”